From my perspective, your success begins with your choice. You are not just taking a cutting; you are selecting a new individual to carry on my legacy. Please, choose wisely. Look for a healthy, non-flowering stem from this year's growth. It should be firm but still flexible, not the old, woody base nor the soft, sappy tip. A stem that is just beginning to mature holds the most vitality. It has the energy to root but is not so tender that it will wilt instantly. The ideal length is about 3 to 4 inches, with two or three pairs of leaves. This is the prime material from which I can most easily generate new life.
This is a critical moment. I feel everything. Do not tear or crush my stem with dull scissors. Use a sharp, clean blade—a knife or pruning shears sterilized with a little rubbing alcohol. This prevents disease from entering my system or the system of the new plant you are creating. Make the cut cleanly, just below a leaf node. This node is a hub of cellular activity, containing meristematic cells that are primed to become roots. The angle of the cut is less important than its cleanliness. Immediately after separating me from the parent plant, my world begins to change. I start to sense I am on my own, and my survival instincts must activate.
To give my rooting process a powerful start, you can gently remove the lowest set of leaves. This exposes the nodes, which are the points from which roots will emerge. Some gardeners make a small, shallow vertical nick or "wound" on the lower inch of the stem. This slight injury stimulates a hormonal response within me, encouraging the production of callus tissue from which roots will form. Dipping the cut end into a rooting hormone powder can further accelerate this process. The hormone mimics my natural auxins, the chemicals that signal root growth. It's like a concentrated message telling my cells, "Roots now!" Tap off any excess powder, as too much can inhibit growth.
I cannot root in heavy, waterlogged soil. My delicate new roots would rot before they could even form. You must provide me with a light, airy, and well-draining medium. A mix of half perlite and half peat-free compost is ideal. It holds just enough moisture around my stem without suffocating me. Before you place me in the medium, moisten it thoroughly. Then, using a pencil or dibber, create a small hole. Gently lower me into this hole, being careful not to rub off the rooting hormone, and firm the medium around my base. This ensures good contact between my stem and the moist particles, which is essential for water uptake and root initiation.
Now, I am most vulnerable. I have no roots to draw up water, but my leaves are still losing moisture through transpiration. To prevent me from wilting and dying, you must create a mini-greenhouse. Cover my pot with a clear plastic bag or place it inside a propagator with a clear lid. This traps the humidity around my leaves, drastically reducing water loss. Place me in a warm, bright location, but out of direct, harsh sunlight, which would scorch me. A warm windowsill is perfect. Every few days, lift the cover to allow fresh air to circulate; this prevents fungal diseases. In this warm, humid, and bright sanctuary, I can focus all my energy on the miraculous task of creating a new root system.
